MODULE 1: Introduction to Microsoft Project

This module provides an overview of how the features of Project relate to the job of the project manager. The module also teaches the student how to access different features by navigating through the ribbon.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Have a fundamental understanding of how Microsoft Project will help them track their projects.
• Understand what is new in Project 2013 and how it will increase their productivity.
• Learn how the ribbon will help them get the most of out of this productivity tool.
• Learn how to quickly change views and see what is going on with their projects.
• Understand the 5 essential steps in building a successful project plan.

Lab : Introduction to Mastering Microsoft Project

MODULE 2: A Quick and Easy Overview of Managing with Project

This module demonstrates the required steps to create and use Microsoft Project 2013 through the life cycle of a project.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Prepare a new project plan and set the date and other basic information.
• Enter detailed project information.
• Understand how to sequence tasks.
• Understand and define basic resource types.
• Assign resources to tasks.
• Understand the benefits of baselining a project or specific tasks.
• Understand the basics of how to track project progress.

Lab : Creating a Basic Project with a template
Lab : Creating a Basic Project

MODULE 3: Setting Up a Project

This module explains how to create a new project and establish the basic constraints that Microsoft Project 2013 will use for its calculations.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create a new project using a template, Excel, a SharePoint Tasks List or a new Project file.
• Establish one or more calendars to constrain resource availability.
• Configure Microsoft Project to calculate the schedule from the Start Date forward or from the Finish Date backward.

Lab : Setting Up a Project

MODULE 4: Manually Schedule vs. Auto Schedule

This module explains how to how to manually schedule project tasks and how to leverage the auto schedule feature.

Lessons

Students practice switching tasks between Manually Schedule and Auto Schedule modes. By switching modes, students learn the impact made on the project schedule and the individual tasks.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand how to turn on Manually Schedule and Auto Schedule.
• Understand when to use Manually Schedule.
• Understand the limitations of Manually Scheduling.

Lab : Explore Task Modes

MODULE 5: Creating a Work Breakdown Structure

This module explains how to create a useful work breakdown structure and enter it into Microsoft Project.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Build and use summary and subordinate tasks.
• Understand and use milestones.
• How to organize the WBS.
• How to format the WBS.
• Develop WBS outlines.
• Assign completion criteria.
• Evaluate the WBS.
• Understand and use WBS outlines.
• Understand how to link Project artifacts to their projects.
• Understand how to create notes on tasks.

Lab : Manipulate a WBS
Lab : Supporting the Project Plan

MODULE 6: Identifying Task Relationships

This module explains the rules for establishing dependency links between tasks and how to use Project to display these dependencies.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the different types of task relationships.
• Understand and use various methods to create relationships.
• Determine and display task sequence.
• Understand how to use Lag, Lead and Delay.

Lab : Display the sequence

MODULE 7: Defining Resources within Project

This module explains how to enter resources and specific resource information in Microsoft Project and assign resources to specific tasks.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Define the different types of resources.
• Define individual resources that will be used on the project.
• Record the cost(s) of using each type of resource.
• Record the limit of availability for each type of resource by establishing a resource calendar and defining the maximum units of that resource.

Lab : Resource Calendar and Availability

MODULE 8: Making Work Package Estimates

This module explains how Microsoft Project calculates task duration, task work (effort) and task resources.  Students will be able to choose among three task types as they enter task estimates and they will know which task type is appropriate for the type of estimate they are making.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Assign values for resources, duration and work.
• Understand task types.
• Understand Effort Driven scheduling.
• Understand material resources and their costs to a project plan.

Lab : Work, Duration and Labor

MODULE 9: Creating an Initial Schedule

This module explains how Project calculates a schedule based on task relationships and task duration. Students will understand the purpose of identifying critical path tasks and will be able to identify schedule float within the project.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Identify the critical path.
• Understand difference between slack and slippage.
• Calculate float.
• How to leverage constraints.
• How to get the benefit from the Task Inspector, and the impact of changes on a project schedule.

Lab : Calculating an Initial schedule

MODULE 10: Create a Resource Leveled Schedule

This module explains how over-allocated resources create unrealistic schedules and shows methods for rescheduling in order to create a realistic schedule based on resource availability.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Adjust a project schedule to account for limited resources.
• View the overall cost and schedule of a project.
• Identify resources that are over- allocated for a project schedule.
• Use multiple ways to adjust tasks and assignments to remove over- allocation for any resource.

Lab : Resource Leveling

MODULE 11: Managing the Project

This module explains how to use Microsoft Project to control a project.  Students will save their plan to a baseline and see how entering actual task performance data enables them to view differences between planned and actual performance.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Set a baseline.
• Enter and manage project performance data.
• Pick a tracking method.
• Perform variance analysis.
• Sync Projects results with SharePoint.

Lab : The Baseline
Lab : Baselining & Tracking Performance
Lab : Variance

MODULE 12: Formatting Output and Printing Reports

Participants will be able to control project output by creating and using Custom Fields, Sorting, Filtering, and Grouping of the project data.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create standardized views, with the power of sorting, filtering and grouping.
• Customize a variety of standard reports.
• Learn how to use Visual Reports.
• Export reports in a variety of formats.

Lab : Use the Grouping Feature
Lab : Create Reports in Project 2013

MODULE 13: Managing Multiple Projects

This module explains how to view many projects as parts of one very large project in order to gain new views on resource availability and task relationships among projects.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use common resources among multiple projects.
• Link tasks between multiple projects.
• Create a consolidated view of multiple projects and shared resources.

Lab : Identifying Overallocated Resources from a Resource Pool and Consolidated FileLab : Identifying Overallocated Resources from a Resource Pool and Consolidated File

MODULE 14: Advanced Topics

This module explains how to leverage some of the advanced features of Microsoft Project.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Take advantage of the advance features of Microsoft Project 2013.
• Be able to create a Macro.
• Share common settings among all future projects.

Lab : Recording a Macro in Project 2013

MODULE 15: Summary

This module provides an overview of the topics presented in the course and how to prepare for Microsoft’s exam 74-343 Microsoft Project 2013, Managing Projects with Project 2013.

Lessons

• Learn how to access the Office App Store.
• Learn what 74-343 Microsoft Project 2013, Managing Projects with Project 2013 exam will cover and what is in the objective domain.
• A sample study guide to help students prepare for the Microsoft Project 2013 exam.